Today is last day of ICC sticker issuance

CEBU, Philippines - Today is the last day the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has given to motorcycle owners to have their helmets issued with Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers or Philippine Standards (PS) marks in preparation for the full implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2010 on January 1, 2013.

Land Transportation Office (LTO)-7 Director Raul Aguilos emphasized that nothing and no one could prevent the full implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Act on the first day of next year.

LTO, in cooperation with other government agencies and private organizations, has conducted aggressive information campaign on the law.

The Helmet Law was supposed to take effect last August 1 but the Department of Transportation and Communications ordered the Land Transportation Office to postpone its enforcement.

This is primarily due to the request of DTI to give them until the end of the year to inspect all the helmets coming in the country and ensure that these helmets bear the ICC seal issued by the Bureau of Products Standard.

Aguilos added that the Philippine National Police, Task Force Alpha, patrol groups, traffic operation units, local government units, enforcers, deputized agents, and other concerned agencies are hereby mandated to enforce the law.

He said the drivers, consumers, stakeholders, and end-users would no longer have excuses not to procure the requirements of the law given the four additional months for compliance.

“This is already a law and has passed all the stages in the legislative process. We have given them so much time as far as the law is concerned. All of us are already aware that come January 1st, law enforcers must fully implement RA 10054. We will strictly impose all the penalties and fines and you should comply with the law,” he stated.

He further appealed to motorcycle riders and law enforcers to be responsible enough for their own safety.

RAct 10054 requires motorists to wear either a half-faced helmet with clear visor or a full-faced helmet with a clear visor to ensure the protection of the riders.

Aguilos cited that the law is expected to decrease vehicular accidents after and during the implementation period.

Almost 80 percent of vehicular accidents are caused by motorcycles, he said.

Compared to Dumaguete which is known as the “motorcycle capital of the Philippines,” he noted that Metro Cebu still accounts around 70 to 80 percent of the total number of motorcycles registered in the entire region.

He assured that Dumaguete will have enough deputized personnel to look after the implementation of the law in the province.

Meanwhile, DTI Regional Director Asteria Caberte assured the authenticity of the ICC stickers and tells the LTO to focus on their task during roadside inspection.

“Amo nang trabaho to detect. Kami na ang bahala ana. Kami ra ana. Dili nato lisdon ang enforcement. As to the roadside inspection, once the authorities see the ICC or PS mark, don’t make it a problem. Ipa-simple ang atong kinabuhi. Di na ma-kipaglalis sa drivers. If you have doubts, get the necessary information of the motorcycle rider and give it to us so we can check it,” she added.

DTI guaranteed its testing and informed LTO that prescribed helmets could be identified through the DOTC and other marks of conformity, minimum extent of protection, and visual inspection which means the shell of the helmet covers the ears of the rider.

She also said that DTI should focus more on intense monitoring on the retailers’ end and will conduct random inspection on establishments and distributors of helmets come 2013.

“DTI will come very strong on the retailer’s end. Of course, Day 1 is expected to be a difficult day,” Ca-berte stated.

She also reminded the riding public that DTI has formally announced as early as July of this year that the end of issuance of stickers is until December 28 at 5 p.m.

As of December 21, 37,460 helmets were issued with the ICC mark. It increased from the 23,098 helmets out of 27,102 helmets approved last June 26.

At present, there are 83 international and local brands of helmet approved by DTI which has increased from 64 brands as of June 2012.  Reimann Allego, a 24-year-old motorcycle owner, encouraged fellow motorists to abide the law to ensure safety against any accidents.

He added that law enforcers should be on full force to make sure that those who go against RA 10054 should be given the proper sanctions.

He bought a new helmet with the ICC sticker worth P1,200 five months ago.

Although acknowledging the benefits of the helmet law, Charmion Pañares still pointed out that criminals like gunmen would take advantage of the law by using full-faced helmets.

Pañares who has been driving motorcycle for already 12 years just purchased a prescribed helmet this month.

On the other hand, 54-year old Narciso Quimilat described RA 10054 particularly its fines and penalties as “well and good” since it imposes discipline among motorists.

“If masuko ka nganong bug-at kaayo ang mga fines, meaning violator ka. But if mo-abide lang ka sa law, di man ka maigo anang mga penalties. Maayo ang balaod. It has to be enforced strictly,” he stated in an interview.

But Quimilat admitted he still has to get an ICC sticker for his helmet.

He might get a new helmet with the ICC mark before January 1 if he could not get one today.

Around 75 deputized agents from Land Transportation Office and representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry and local government units region-wide attended the final briefing for enforcers that was held yesterday at the Sacred Heart Center. — /MBG (FREEMAN)